Faith makes the difference

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? Mk. 5:30

There were many people pressing in to get close to Jesus; many hands were no doubt touching him. In the middle of this multitude came this woman with an unsolvable medical condition but with faith in the power of Christ to heal. In fact, such was her faith that she was convinced that a mere touch of the hem of his garment would be sufficient to heal her of her disease. She found that to be true.

So, although many people were touching Christ, they didn't receive virtue or power from him. This woman did, and Jesus knew it. The narrative goes on to explain the difference: "And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole: go in peace, and be whole of thy plague" (34). The difference was faith.

The same is true today. Multitudes may know about Christ, may bump into him in the gospels, may interact with his words and teaching on some level. There may even be vigorous intellectual interaction with the Bible. And yet they go away untouched and unchanged. On the other hand, there are others who many times are far simpler than our Lord's learned interlocutors who walk away forever changed. What is the difference? It is the difference of faith in Christ as the one who heals and empowers.

Now I don't take this to mean that whatever you want, if you work up enough mental energy to believe that Jesus will get it for you that you will get it. The gospels are not meant to lead us into the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel. Rather, the miracles of the gospels are meant to show us one thing: they are meant to show us that Jesus is the Christ so that we will believe and find life in his name (Jn. 20:31). In the gospels he comes to us, our Lord and Savior: will we touch him with the hand of faith and be healed? May the Lord enable each one of us to do so, whether for the first time or the ten thousandth time.